English introduction

Welcome

Welcome to the website of the VROM-council (VROM-raad), the Dutch Council for Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment. The Council is charged with advising government and parliament on the main aspects of policy on sustainability of the environment and on housing, spatial planning and environmental management. The VROM-council also provides advice on the government’s international environmental policy activities.

Publications available in English

All the standpoints can be downloaded in Dutch. The following standpoints can be downloaded in English, German or French:

(067) VROM Council recommendations for sustainable urban development download
(066) VROM Council recommendations for the development and implementation of European law and policy on housing, spatial planning and the environment in the Netherlands download advice pressrelease
(065) Every journey has its price download advice pressrelease
(061) Sustainable development of marine potential download
(045) Energietransition: a climate for new opportunities download
(045) Background document: An Evaluation of the European Context for a Transition Towards a Sustainable Energy System (J. Chesshire) download
(019) The Netherlands and the European Environment download
(019) Die Niederlande und der europäische Umweltschutz (german) download
(019) Les Pays-Bas et l`énvironnement européen (french) download
(017) Mobility within Reason download
(016) Global Sustainibility and the ecological Footprint download
(015) Viable and vibrant Countryside download
(015) Der ländliche Raum: stark und attraktiv (german) download
(010) Transition to a low-carbon energy economy download
(006) Managing policy for a sustainable society download
(005) City Land-Plus download
(003) European Spatial Development Perspective download

Background and Mission

The VROM-council, which meets every three weeks, advises the government and parliament on strategic choices for the medium and long term. Its advisory reports address policy issues related to sustainability and quality of the living environment. The explanatory memorandum accompanying the VROM-council Act anticipated that requests for advice would largely be confined to four areas:

The physical environment: the surroundings in which societal activities unfold. The issues here are those of quantity, quality and planning as well as identifying the variables - e.g. energy, biodiversity and space - that are crucial to realising a society that manages its resources in a sustainable way.
The changing socio-cultural processes (such as sustainable consumption, demography, lifestyles, perceived quality of the living environment) and international developments (European integration, globalisation and North-South relations) which influence housing, spatial planning and environmental policy.
The relationship between economy and ecology.
Instruments and policy concepts (such as management techniques, optimisation, coherence, societal support, voluntary agreements and direct regulation, concepts for planning and large-project planning).

The VROM-council is currently part of the EEAC Agriculture, and Energy Working Groups. The 5th Annual Conference on Self Regulation within Society was hosted by the Council in 1997. The Council was established in 1997 and resulted from a merger of the Council for the Environment, the Council for Housing and the Council for Spatial Planning.

The work programme laid down each year by the Minister in consultation with the Council ensures that the advice requirements of both government and parliament can be met. The work progamme on 2006 will soon be ready.

Council Members

The composition of the Council is as follows:

Henry Meijdam (mr. H.M.) chairman.
Peter Boelhouwer (prof. dr. P.J.) Scientific director of the OTB Research Institute for Housing, Urban and Mobility Studies, Director of the TU-Delft Research Centre for Sustainable Urban Areas. Professor of Housing Systems at the faculty of Architecture of Delft University of Technology.
Karin van Dreven (ms. drs. C.F.) Director of ‘Woningstichting Haag Wonen’ housing association.
Niels Koeman (prof.mr. N.S.J.) Professor of Environmental Law at the University of Amsterdam; lawyer and partner at Stibbe, Amsterdam. (Since 1-1-2008)
Hans Mommaas (prof. dr. ir. J.T.) Professor of Leisure Studies and Director of Telos: Brabant Institute for Sustainable Development at Tilburg University.
Arnold Reijndorp (prof. ir. A.) Independent researcher and consultant at the cutting edge of urbanism, social developments and cultural trends in the urban field. Professor of Socio-Economic and Spatial Developments in Urban Areas at the University of Amsterdam.
Annemiek Rijckenberg (ms. drs. A.) Independent adviser on urban development.
Annemieke Roobeek (ms. prof.dr. A.J.M.) Chair for Strategy and Transformation Management, University Nyenrode - The Netherlands Business School.
Rudy Stroink (ir. R.F.C.) Founder, shareholder and C.O.A.C.H. TCN
Marja van der Tas (ms. M.A.J.) Independent adviser.
Sylvo Thijsen (ir. S.) CEO and Chairman of the Board of Grontmij N.V.
Pieter Tordoir (prof.dr. P.) Independent adviser and Professor of Economic Geography and Planning at the University of Amsterdam.
Nellie Verbugt (ms. drs. P.J.L.) Independent adviser on spatial planning, urban management and public affairs. Chairman of the advisory group for the Netherlands Institute for Spatial Research.
Willem Vermeend (prof.dr. W.A.F.G.) Professor European Fiscal Economics at the University of Maastricht.
Bastiaan Zoeteman (prof. dr. ir. B.C.J.) Professor of Sustainability Policy at Tilburg University. Chairman of the Netherlands Commission on Genetic Modification (COGEM). Chairman of the Institute for Globalisation and Sustainable Development.

Observers of the Council for Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment

M.A. Hajer, on behalf of the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (Planbureau voor de Leefomgeving).
V. Veldheer, on behalf of the Social and Cultural Planning Office (Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau).
C.J.J. Eigenraam, on behalf of the Central Planning Office (Centraal Planbureau).

General secretary of the Council for Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment

Bram van de Klundert (drs. A.F.).

Staff members

The VROM Council has a staff of approximately 18.

Contact and address

VROM-raad
Oranjebuitensingel 6
Postbus 30949, IPC 105
2500 GX Den Haag
The Netherlands
Telephone +31 70 339 1505
Fax +31 70 339 1970
vromraad@minvrom.nl
www.vromraad.nl